A medical needle holder with a shaft, a tool that is mounted on the distal end of the shaft and two jaw members, such that one jaw member of the tool is configured to pivot with respect to the other jaw member of the tool, as well as with a handle that is mounted on the proximal end of the shaft and at least two gripping members, such that the pivotable jaw member of the tool can be actuated by a movably configured gripping member of the handle, such that at least one portion of at least one jaw member of the tool is configured to slide with respect to the other jaw member of the tool in the longitudinal direction of the shaft. The slidable jaw member or the slidable portion of the jaw member is pre-tensed in a starting position by a spring element.